I don't mean this in a clingy way. In fact I used to be clingy but I don't tend to be anymore. But I have found that in all different kinds of relationships, the ones that I find easiest to forge begin with someone wanting something from me that other people cannot offer them. In intimate relationships this has without failure been the "you get me but no one else ever has" phenomenon. It also prevails in platonic relationships however. I'll give an example. My boyfriend is 7 years older than me, and I am shy and look very young. As such I have been quite wary with the friends of his that I have met, as I feel they are all kind of settled and more worldy wise than me etc. Now, one of his good friends (that I haven't met) has just been thrown out of his married home recently for gambling debts (it's incredibly sad). Now that has happened, I am not shy of meeting him for some reason. It almost seems like I envisage myself counselling him, or being of some help as a listener when I meet him. Of course this is unlikely because he appears to be a private person and will not spill out his problems to just any one. But as soon as I feel there is a need, I feel so much more comfortable! I've just noticed this.